Natural Flea and Tick Products
It is not uncommon to worry about the flea and tick treatment you are using on your pet. There are many toxins found in some flea and tick medications, so it is always advisable to research any product before you use it on your dog or cat. But, there are many natural flea and tick treatments now available for those pet owners who do not want to use chemicals on their animals or would like an alternative.
There are many different companies who offer spray on flea and tick treatments for your dog or cat. Most of these are formulated to kill and repel the fleas and ticks naturally on contact. Depending on the product, some sprays need to be used only once per every 4 weeks and others require more usage. We currently carry Vet's Best, Richard's Organics, Wondercide and Pet Naturals flea and tick sprays. Most of these companies will carry a more concentrated spray for outside use, as well as for use on pet bedding, pillows, carpet and rugs. There are some common ingredients you find across all the natural sprays and we will discuss each of those.
Peppermint oil and clove oil are deadly to insects, especially fleas and ticks. Peppermint oil is one of the most toxic octopamine blockers found in nature. Octopamine is a key neurotransmitter that is found in invertebrates-it is an insect's equivalent to adrenaline. It regulates the heart rate, movement, behavior, and metabolism of these critters. Peppermint oil blocks the production of octopamine, causing the insect's central nervous system to break down. It also helps relieve itching caused by insect bites. All bad news for any flea and ticks that want to mess with your pet! Vet's Best is one of the companies we carry that includes both Peppermint Oil and Clove Oil as a flea and tick treatment. They also offer a Home Spray and an Outside Spray. Vet's Best is safe for both dogs and cats.
Cedar oil is another essential oil used to repel fleas and ticks. It, like the other oils, kills adult fleas, eggs, larvae and is a great preventative for insects. Cedar oil also repels mosquitoes. Wondercide is a company we carry that uses mostly cedar oil to repel insects. They use hydrated silica which is an inert ingredient and acts as a carrier for the cedar oil. It creates a barrier so the cedar oil is not absored through your dog or cat's skin. Cedar oil, like peppermint oil, blocks the neurotransmitter octopamine, killing and repelling insects instantly. Wondercide offers two different replenant sprays: cedar and lemongrass. Lemongrass can be used to repel mosquitoes and prodived a skiny, healthier coat. Wondercide is safe for both dogs and cats.
Cinnamon oil and Rosemary oils are other options for natural insect repellants. Cinnamon oil is a versatile essential oil widely used in the household. It is an effective environmentally-friendly ingredient that helps deter mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and other pests from attacking your dog or cat. Richard's Organics uses these ingredients, in addtion cedar and clove, to repel fleas and ticks for up to 4 weeks. This spray is NOT safe for cats but can be used on dogs. Cats are more sensitive to oils than dogs, so some sprays are only used for dogs and not cats. The types of oils used, the concentration and the carrier gel will all effect the usage on cats.
We also carry Sentry Natural Defense, which is a once a month treatment that you squeeze between the dog's shoulder blades. The type that you need will be based on the size of your dog, Sentry offers one for small, medium and large dogs. The active ingredients used are peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil and thyme oil.
We are always on the look out for more safe and friendly natural products to repel fleas and ticks. So keep your eye on the blog for any new updates in our stores.
